“Wait? For what? Wait for help when we are young and can help ourselves? I want to go to the Superdome and find Mona. I want to help my friends Patrice and Elise. I want to get out of this small room.” Sugar Doll opened the door and ran down the stairs.
Big Ma paced in her hotel room. She knew that something terrible had happened. The rain was coming down in buckets now. The weather system which had devastated her hometown was now finally making its way up to Baton Rouge. She felt an emptiness that only implied a death as far as she was concerned. She didn’t feel a fear for Sugar Doll but Bertrand’s image left a heaviness in her heart. She called Reverend Han’s room. “Pastor, I need you to pray for Bertrand. He’s in trouble.”
“Now sister, we have been praying for everyone and everything. There is no need to worry about the young people. It is the old and infirm I’m worried about now.” Reverend Han couldn’t help smiling into the phone. Sister Jones was always concerned about her family and a more loving lady one rarely met. He knew that this small comfort wouldn’t stop her but it wouldn’t stop him from trying to convince her that he knew what he was talking about in the first place. The television kept showing that their Parish was obliterated. He was happy that they had landed in Alexandria instead of staying in that sinful city New Orleans.
“I feel that something is wrong and I don’t know what to do about it.” Big Ma cried which was unlike her.
“I know how you feel Sister Jones, but we must be strong hearted. Weeping endures for the night but then joy comes in the morning.” He smiled at his favorite comfort phrase.
“Thank you Pastor.” Big Ma hung up the phone but the feeling of dread and worry simply would not leave her. She got on her knees to pray again.
Sugar Doll didn’t really know what she was doing but she headed out to the street and just as Remy said there was broken glass everywhere. Remy was close on her heels and took her arm. Sugar, there are some places that need boats to travel to in the first place. We need to find what we can to help but first we must be prepared ourselves. The Superdome has over 2000 people there and we will have too much difficulty locating just a few people. I’m more than sure that they don’t have anything set up yet. We need to take a wait and see attitude. Please Sugar. Please.” Remy tried to reason with Sugar Doll but her mind was made up and she just kept walking even though she didn’t have a particular direction.
“Okay, if you insist. Let’s see where we can get a boat to go over to the areas we need to make it. They walked toward Canal Street. As they neared the street there were palm trees strewn all over the place. There were police officers on every corner sitting in wait for any looters. One such officer intercepted them. “Where ya’ll think ya’ll going?” He asked.
“We are going to the Superdome.” Sugar Doll said as strongly as she could.
“The Superdome? Ya’ll survived the hurricane and you want to try to go to the Superdome? Ya’ll are crazy. You may not pass. Please return to your residence. Things are going to get worse before they get better and I can guarantee that a pretty girl like yourself won’t last long on these streets. Go home ma’am and sir keep an eye on her. There are rampant murders and rapes going on right now as we speak. This is not a time for anyone to be out of doors. Consider this a warning.” The officer turned them around physically.
Remy was in agreement so he didn’t argue. He grabbed Sugar Doll by the shoulder and led her in the direction of his apartment. She seemed to give in but then turned in a different direction.
“Where are you going Sugar Doll? You heard the officer. This is not the time to go out aimlessly looking around. Let’s wait till things settle and then we can search for you momma and your friends. Please Sugar Doll.” Remy pleaded with her. She turned reluctantly around but realized that he was right and that she was being bullheaded. They walked slowly back to his apartment. The radio was still playing on his kitchen counter. It was scratchy and sounded as though two stations had crossed each other. Kathleen Blanco’s voice droned on about the need for people to keep their sanity and to wait for help to arrive. Day one of Hurricane Katrina was a nightmare.
Mona woke with a start. She heard a gunshot, loud and obtrusive. She sat bolt upright. She was disoriented. As she blinked she realized that she was in her living room on her own couch. She jumped startled when she felt the presence of someone else. Mr. Renair sat in her La-Z-Boy chair dozing, his eyeglasses hanging onto his nose. It all came crashing back to her. Tony was dead. She imagined that she saw the bullet which penetrated his stomach. She held herself tightly. The hurricane. She got up slowly her legs inexplicably wobbly and then she remembered the long walk in the wind and rain from the hospital. Bang! Boom! Another powerful blast struck and this time she knew it was not a dream. She felt the floor shake. It felt like an earthquake but then she knew better. She instinctively went to the window but realized once pulling open the curtains that they were boarded up and she was closed off to the outside world. There was no flooding on this first floor so she felt sure that the hurricane had missed them. She smelled the welcome scent of coffee and walked toward it. As she poured herself a cup she thought about everything that had happened. Boom! Boom! There was the sound again. She couldn’t imagine what it could be. This time she headed for the front door to look out but only saw rain and debris strewn outside her yard. She tried for the lights but there was no power. She walked toward the pantry and pulled out an old radio and batteries. “Good Afternoon.” Mr. Renair startled her. She jumped almost dropping the batteries. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He smiled walking into the kitchen to retrieve a cup to pour himself some coffee.
“Well, you did.” Mona said grumpily. “Did you feel that boom?” she asked.
“Yes I did. I most surely did.” Mr. Renair took a sip from his coffee thoughtfully. “I believe that they are blowing up the levee.” He said shaking his head.
“Why would they do that?” Mona asked.
“To relieve pressure and to save the Quarters. They did it back in1927. It was denied, but it happened.” Mr. Renair sat down.
“How do you know?” Mona asked.
“My father told me. They sacrificed the poor to save the rich and now the Quarters are all we have that makes us unique. The View Carre will survive, must survive. To my way of thinking the storm must be pretty bad for them to pull a stunt like that again.”
Mona turned the radio on now that she had installed the batteries. “Massive flooding as the levees are breached.” Poured from the radio. Mona looked at Mr. Renair who just sipped his coffee.
“Elise, I’ve got to go to the bathroom.” Patrice said getting up to walk down to the next level.
“I’ll come with you.” Elise stood up to accompany her sister.
“Do you have to go?” Patrice asked annoyed.
“No. All right I’ll stay here.” Elise sat back down with Bobby Joe. The boys were playing cards again.
“I’ll be right back.” Patrice said as she descended the stairs.
She turned the corner and had to practically walk over people in the hallway. She went into the bathroom. She finally got a stall at the end of the corridor.
“Hey girl, you sure is fine!” Came an unfamiliar voice who pushed open the stall door.
“Get out of here are you crazy?” Patrice yelled.
“How you gonna call me crazy we ain’t even been introduced yet.” The muscular black man approached Patrice menacingly. He was on her in a flash pushing her hard against the wall. He covered her mouth with his hand. The cold steel bar pressed hard against her back. He was choking her. Patrice could feel herself screaming but couldn’t hear it. The man was taking off her pants. Then a painful push came. She had her eyes closed but quickly opened them to see what the force was. Elise had pulled the man down to the ground and was beating him. Patrice fell on him too. They were both screaming. Other women came forward then kicking and screaming and beating the man who struggled to get away. The man tried to run but was held down by
Elise’s girth. She was hitting and scratching him blindly. Then a hand appeared who moved her on the side. It was Bobby Joe and Tommy stood beside him. They pushed the man out the door and began beating and kicking him. The man finally broke away from the fray.
Patrice struggled to get her pants up. She was trembling. She cried. Elise stood to help her sister. They hugged. “Let’s get out of here!” Patrice cried.
Chapter Sixteen
Sugar Doll paced the room. “We’ve got to help Remy. The government is doing nothing.”
Remy knew that she was right. He had been wracking his brains for ideas on helping. He realized that there were many people stuck in the flood waters and that his little canoe could help many people. He opened up the balcony and picked up the boat. “Let’s go.” He said and he and Sugar Doll walked out together.
The guys at Bernie’s bar were having a good time. In the hours since Remy had seen them their faces had become red from the heat and drinking. “Hey Remy boy, come on now and get yo’self a drink!” One of the locals yelled out to him.
“No thanks man, I’m going to try to help some people with this here canoe.” The men raised their glass to Remy as he and Sugar Doll walked by them. They headed toward St. Charles Avenue. It wasn’t long before they saw the damage of the hurricane. Cars were filled with water. As they walked the water rose from their ankles to their knees to finally their waists. Sugar Doll got into the canoe as Remy pushed it. When the water became too deep he jumped inside of it. They were on St. Charles Avenue. As they floated by houses taking in the devastation they heard a loud cry. “Help Me! Help Me!” An old lady was sitting on her roof.
“We are coming for you honey.” Remy stirred the boat closer.
“Ya’ll be careful of them water snakes. I’ve seen a lot of ‘em.” The old lady advised.
“She’s not exactly inspiring confidence is she? Remy winked at Sugar Doll who laughed. They tied a rope to the boat and Remy climbed up the siding of the house. He thanked God for the wrought iron design of the house which was more like a ladder.
“C’mon ma’am I’m right behind you.” Remy reassured the woman as walked slowly backwards down the ladder. The lady tentatively put one foot after another as she slowly descended the siding.
“If I fall you’ll catch me?” The old lady called down to Remy.
“Well I’ve got no choice, it’s either that or we both go down in the water. We don’t want that do we?” Remy asked.
“No, we sure don’t.” The lady came steadily down until Remy was able to take her into his arms and with Sugar Doll’s help settle her into the boat.
“Lucky you a small little thing.” Remy smiled. They untied the boat and pushed off to find shelter for the woman.
“Hey, how ya’ll doin’?” A man yelled out in a passing boat. There were many people out helping with the rescue efforts.
“We’re fine. Hey where can we take her to shelter?” Remy asked the man.
“There are several checkpoints that are taking folks to different Red Cross shelters. The Superdome is one place and the Convention Center is another but you are closer to Canal Street so you can take her to the police so that they can bring her somewhere safe.
“I want to go by my brother’s house.” The old lady chimed in at that moment.
“Where’s that Miss?”
“Lake Charles.” The old lady replied smiling.
“Well now dahling, you gonna have to see the authorities about that ‘cause this little boat can’t carry us that far.” Remy winked at the woman.
“He’s so kind.” Sugar Doll thought to herself as she looked at her man in the light of day.
There were many people who needed rescuing, mostly elderly. Sugar Doll was exhausted by day’s end. The heat was unbearable as they trudged back across Canal Street carrying the little canoe.
“Hey Remy!” A voice called out from across the street. Remy dropped his end of the boat and ran to embrace his friend.
“Man how you doin’? The tall ebony man asked as he hugged Remy in a long embrace.
“Good and you? Your family?” Remy asked concerned as he stepped away from the embrace.
“I don’t know man. I can’t find them. Everything across the river is devastated. I have to go to the Superdome next and it’s packed with people man.”
Sugar Doll approached the men slowly. “Baby, can you help me with the boat?” She asked tentatively.
“I’m sorry Sugar; this here is the famous drummer Eddie Haskins.” Remy patted his friend on the shoulder.
“Hi Eddie.” Sugar Doll said shyly.
“Hey there. You guys look like you made it through the hurricane all right.” Eddie squinted.”
“I still have to find my mother.” Sugar Doll sighed.”
“I know how you feel I need to find my wife and kids. I don’t know where anybody is and all of the circuits are busy so I can’t even call on the cell phone.”
“Where do you think they are?” Sugar Doll asked.
“A lot of people went to the Superdome before the storm. I’m headed over there.” Eddie related.
Sugar Doll looked at Remy.
“The streets over there are flooded but we’ve got this boat.” Remy pointed to the boat that Sugar Doll had left behind on the median.
“Let’s go man!” Eddie ran toward the little boat.
Sugar Doll and Remy ran behind him every inch of their body aching from all of the heavy lifting they had done during the day.
“Are you all right Patrice?” Elise asked for what seemed the hundredth time.
“Yes, please stop fussing over me! He scared me that was all. Thank you so much for not listening to me. I’m glad that you followed me.” Patrice kissed her sister on the cheek. Elise grabbed her in an enormous bear hug.
“Where we going ya’ll?” Bobby Joe asked.
“Somewhere far from here bro.” Tommy answered. As they walked outside the heat hit them first. The sky was a clear blue and the sun was shining as though it had somehow been brought closer to the earth.
“God Damn it’s hot!” Bobby Joe exclaimed.
“What’s that smell?” Elise asked.
“It feels like an oven out here.” Tommy said.
“Where are we going?” Patrice asked suddenly frightened.
“Well, wherever we go we are going to have to get wet.” Bobby Joe said as he saw the water at a level of 3 feet.
Mona picked up her phone receiver again but was not surprised that she had no service.
“All circuits are busy.” Droned from her cell phone as she tried to call Big Ma for the thousandth time. She hoped that Sugar Doll was safely in Gonzales.
“I want to take a look outside.” Mona said to Mr. Renair.
“Be careful, I’m gonna stay put. Folks say the hurricane is dangerous. I say it’s the time after that.”
“Why do you say that?” Mona asked mildly alarmed.
“Well besides all of the infections and diseases you can catch, there are the looters and thieves out looking for an easy score. It’s better if they don’t know about you.” Mr. Reniar sat back sipping his coffee.
Mona thought of her bar then. Would the French Quarters be protected? As she opened her front door she again saw the debris but not the severe amount of damage she’d heard reported on the radio. It must be in outlying areas.
“Several dead bodies have been found in New Orleans’ East.” The radio reported. Mona closed the door. The heat enveloped her. She wanted to open a window but they were all boarded up giving the house the effect of evening time.
“What are we going to do Mr. Renair? Mona asked.
“We wait, that’s what. Wait until it’s all over.” Mr. Renair seemed to have a lot of time to wait.
Mona was restless and wanted to check on her bar. She resolved to go out to check on her place. As she changed into jeans and water boots she kept seeing Tony’s face. “He’s gone now, stop that.” She cajoled herself.
Dauphine S
treet had mostly wind damage. To Mona it looked like Godzilla had walked through and blew down little things. Shingles, tree branches and glass littered the road and the sidewalk but none of it matched the horror she’d heard on the radio. She arrived at her bar with much less effort than she had had to walk home in the two nights before.
“Hey Mona, are you going to be open for business?” Benny greeted her with his usual friendliness.
“Now Benny, how am I going to do that with no power?” Mona smiled at her friend.
“A few people here have emergency generators. I could sure use a beer.” Benny was an old regular resident of the Quarters.
“C’mon in and let’s see what we can get for you.” Mona invited Benny in as she took out her keys. They heard the noise as soon as they walked into the darkened bar.
“Hey someone’s coming in!” Came an urgent whisper.
“Ssssh! Stupid!” The second voice warned.
Benny pushed Mona behind him.
“C’mon outta there, we can hear you.” Benny called to the invaders.
Silence. “We are coming in and we are armed.” Benny called again. Mona punched his shoulder.
“All right Mister, don’t shoot. We were just hungry that’s all.” A young girl of about ten stepped out of the shadows.
“How did you get in here?” Mona yelled in spite of herself. There was a brief scrambling and then the sound of broken glass crunching under someone’s feet. Mona moved quickly past the young girl to the back of the bar into the storage room. The service window stood broken and a small boy of about six years old was trying to climb out onto the street. His hands had blood on them.
“What are you doing?” Mona ran to the boy and grabbed him around the waist. She pulled him back into the room. He started to cry. She felt fists on her back.
“Leave him alone, he ain’t doing you nothing!” Screamed the little girl.
Sugar Doll's Hurricane Blues Page 13
